Processed Bamboo as a Novel Formaldehyde-Free High-Performance Furniture Biocomposite

Shengbo Ge, Nyuk Ling Ma, Shuaicheng Jiang, Yong Sik Ok, Su Shiung Lam, Cheng Li, Sheldon Qiang Shi, Xu Nie, Ying Qiu, Dongli Li, Qingding Wu, Daniel C.W. Tsang, Wanxi Peng, Christian Sonne

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

91 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We used an innovative approach involving hot pressing, low energy consumption, and no adhesive to transform bamboo biomass into a natural sustainable fiber-based biocomposite for structural and furniture applications. Analyses showed strong internal bonding through mechanical "nail-like" nano substances, hydrogen, and ester and ether bonds. The biocomposite encompasses a 10-fold increase in internal bonding strength with improved water resistance, fire safety, and environmentally friendly properties as compared to existing furniture materials using hazardous formaldehyde-based adhesives. As compared to natural bamboo material, this new biocomposite has improved fire and water resistance, while there is no need for toxic adhesives (mostly made from formaldehyde-based resin), which eases the concern of harmful formaldehyde-based VOC emission and ensures better indoor air quality. This surpasses existing structural and furniture materials made by synthetic adhesives. Interestingly, our approach can 100% convert discarded bamboo biomass into this biocomposite, which represents a potentially cost reduction alternative with high revenue. The underlying fragment riveting and cell collapse binding are obviously a new technology approach that offers an economically and sustainable high-performance biocomposite that provides solutions to structural and furniture materials bound with synthetic adhesives.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)30824-30832
Number of pages9
JournalACS applied materials & interfaces
Volume12
Issue number27
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Jul 2020

Keywords

  • bamboo
  • biocomposite
  • nanoidentation
  • pressure
  • sustainable

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Processed Bamboo as a Novel Formaldehyde-Free High-Performance Furniture Biocomposite'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this